Fabrication Techniques

The grand ambitions of micro- and nanotechnology are dependent upon practical and feasible fabrication methods to realize the designs. There are various fabrication techniques with different objectives and performances, choice of which depends upon the applications, materials properties, and geometries of the desired structure. These techniques can be roughly classified into either a “top-down” or “bottom-up” approach. Top-down fabrication refers to methods where one commences with macroscopically dimensioned material and carves the nanostructure out of the larger structure. On the other hand, in the bottom-up approach, assembly begins with smaller units: positions of atoms or molecules are manipulated to piece together the nanostructure.